The Episcopal Conference of Rwanda has appealed to the world to support the planned construction of a big Chapel of Mother Mary in Kibeho.
This came after the occurrence of Marian visions of the 1980s, in which Mother Mary asked the people to build for her two chapels in this place as a memorable sign of her visitation.
The small apparition chapel has since been constructed.
In November 2021, the construction of a new Basilica was inaugurated in Kibeho, Southern Province of Rwanda to dethrone Saint Peter’s Basilica – Vatican as world’s biggest basilica.
The latter is totaling to a capacity of 60,000 people and the construction project is estimated to be worth Rwf 70 billion which is approximately UGx192.7 trillion
However, they are remaining with the assignment of constructing a bigger one.
The Rector of the Kibeho Shrine, Rev Fr Francis Harerimana says the Catholic Bishops of Rwanda met recently at the shrine over the same.
One of the pilgrims that have travelled to Kibeho from Uganda for the annual pilgrimage, Rev Fr Emmanuel Mucunguzi from Mbarara Archdiocese spoke to our reporter, highlighting that these apparitions have a hidden meaning that Mother Mary is not only for particular individuals but for the entire universe.
In the same vein, Fr David Bakashaba also from Mbarara Archdiocese interprets these Marian apparitions as a clear sign that the greatest knowledge comes from the most humble backgrounds.
Kibeho a small village in Nyaruguru district- Rwanda, is most known as a place of apparition where the Virgin Mary appeared to three adolescent girls Alphonsine Mumureke, a nun in France, Marie Claire Mukangango, who was killed in the 1994 genocide, and Nathalie Mukamazimpaka, who stays at the Kibeho Shrine.
Nathalie Mukamazimpaka can still be seen in the Shrine or Apparition Room or the Shrine’s compound.
By Florence Nangendo
3rd Sept 2024
End
